This is the statement from MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey on the selection of the at-grade alternative for the Casey Overpass:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has selected the at-grade alternative for the Casey Overpass, which carries Route 203 over Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain. The decision was made after an extensive public outreach campaign consisting of five public meeting and 12 Working Advisory Group meetings over a nine-month period.That process has led us to determine that the at-grade alternative reconnects the neighborhood, provides more open space, incorporates more design elements that are pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, and allows for more efficient bus movements through the area.

The existing Casey Overpass is in the advanced stages of deterioration and is at the end of its serviceable life. Moving forward, the design process will undergo a series of steps to reach completion; MassDOT expects construction to begin in October 2013.